Wrapping paper

ABSTRACT

Wrapping paper includes a sheet of paper having at least one edge portion delineated by a first line of weakness. Adhesive is applied to the edge portion. A gift item is wrapped by detaching at least one edge portion from the sheet along the first line of weakness, wrapping the sheet around the gift item, and using the adhesive edge portion to secure the sheet. The wrapping paper can formed of an edible paper with a non-toxic adhesive, such that the gift item can be unwrapped by consuming the wrapping paper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61,041,620, filed on Apr. 2, 2008, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wrapping paper, and more particularly,to edible wrapping paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is traditional to wrap gifts prior to exchanging them. Typically, thegift, or a box or other container holding the gift, is covered withwrapping paper. The wrapping paper is secured by several pieces of tape.While effective, this process requires a prospective gift giver to haveboth wrapping paper and tape. Ordinarily, tape is offered in quantitiesfar greater than are needed to wrap a given gift, and the gradualaccumulation of unwanted tape rolls is a common occurrence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide wrapping paper that does not require a separate roll of tape.According an embodiment of the present invention, wrapping paperincludes a sheet of paper having at least one edge portion delineated bya first line of weakness. Adhesive is applied to the edge portion.

According to a method aspect of the present invention, a method ofwrapping a gift item includes detaching at least one edge portion fromthe sheet along the first line of weakness, wrapping the sheet aroundthe gift item, and using the edge portion to secure the sheet.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the wrapping paperis formed of an edible paper and the adhesive is non-toxic. The wrappingpaper is used to wrap a gift item, such that the gift item can beunwrapped by consuming the wrapping paper.

These and other embodiments, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will be better understood in view of the drawings and thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of wrapping paper, according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wrapping paper of FIG. 1 being usedto wrap a gift item;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of wrapping paper, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of wrapping paper, according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of wrapping paper, according to anadditional embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, wrapping paper 10 includes a sheet of paper 11 having an edgeportion 12. A first line of weakness 14 is formed in the paper 10between the edge portion 12 and the rest of the sheet 11. A plurality ofsecond lines of weakness 16 are formed in the edge portion 12,subdividing the edge portion 12 into a plurality of connector portions18. An adhesive 20 is applied to the edge portion 12 over the connectorportions 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in operation, the edge portion 12 is removedfrom the sheet 11 along the first line of weakness 14. The sheet 11 iswrapped around a gift item. Connector portions 18 are separated alongthe second lines of weakness 16 and adhered to the sheet 11 to securethe sheet 11 in wrapped form.

Referring to FIG. 3, according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, wrapping paper 100 is rolled, with an unrolling direction102. The wrapping paper 100 includes a plurality of sheets 110. Thesheets 110 each include an edge portion 112. First lines of weakness 114delineate each the edge portion 112 from the rest of the correspondingsheet 110, as well as delineating each sheet 110 from the next. Secondlines of weakness 116 are formed on the edge portions 112, dividing theedge portions 112 into a plurality connector portions 118. Adhesive 120is applied to the edge portions 112 over the connector portions 118.

In operation, the wrapping paper 100 is unrolled to allow access to atleast one sheet 110. The at least one sheet 110 is separated from theroll 100 along the first line of weakness 114 such that at least oneedge portion 112 is also separated from the roll. The at least one sheet110 and edge portion 112 are then used to wrap a gift item substantiallyas described above in connection with the wrapping paper 10.

In the preceding embodiment, the edge portions 112 are arrangedsubstantially perpendicular to the unrolling direction 102. Referring toFIG. 4, according to a further embodiment of the present invention,wrapping paper 200, with an unrolling direction 202, includes aplurality of sheets 210. The sheets 210 include a plurality of edgeportions 212 that are arranged substantially parallel with the unrollingdirection 202. The edge portions 212 are delineated from the sheets 210by first lines of weakness 214.

The edge portions 212 are otherwise substantially similar to the edgeportions 12 and 112, including second lines of weakness, connectorportions and adhesive. Third lines of weakness 222 separate the wrappingpaper portions 210 substantially perpendicular to the rolling direction202. In operation, a desired number of sheets 210 are separated from thewrapping paper 200 along a third line of weakness 222 and wrappingproceeds substantially as described above in connection with thewrapping paper 10.

The present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodimentsherein shown and described. Rather, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, and adaptations to particularcircumstances, are possible within the scope of the present invention.

For example, any suitable dimensions can be selected for the wrappingpaper. Any desired design can be printed thereon. Any suitable papermaterial can be used for the wrapping paper. In addition to rolling, thewrapping paper can also be stored in folded form. Adhesive can beapplied to both sides of the edge portion, giving the connector portionsa “two-sided” adhesive capability.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an edible paper isselected, such as rice paper or wafer paper. Preferably, the ediblepaper selected is able to be folded and creased as needed for a wrappingapplication. A food safe ink, such as a soy-based ink, is used for theprinting of a desired design and a non-toxic adhesive is selected, suchas a moisture activated envelope adhesive. The paper can also beflavored and/or scented.

Wrapping papers or rolls according to this aspect of the presentinvention are particularly suitable for wrapping gift items for pets, asthe pet can consume the wrapping paper to unwrap the gift item. Thepresent invention is especially suitable for use with edible paper, asthe need for tape or other, non-edible, adhesive materials iseliminated.

Edge portions can be divided into any number of connector portions ornot divided at all, with a user able to cut connector portions ofdesired lengths. Any suitable adhesive can be chosen for the edgeportion. If a pressure sensitive adhesive is selected, a quick releasebacking can be applied to prevent the adhesive from premature adherence.For example, referring to FIG. 5, wrapping paper 300 includes at leastone sheet 310 having an edge portion 312 delineated by a line ofweakness 314. The edge portion 312 is not subdivided and has a pressuresensitive adhesive 320 applied thereto. A releasable backing 330 coversthe adhesive 320. In operation, the edge portion 312 is removed from thesheet 310, suitable size connector portions are cut off as needed, andthe releasable backing 330 is removed from the cut connector portionsprior to securing to the sheet 310 during wrapping.

Any suitable weakening can be used to form the first, second and thirdlines of weakness. For example, perforation, scoring or creasing can beemployed to form lines of weakness. In connection with the embodimentincluding the wrapping paper 200, third lines of weakness 222 can beomitted, with a user cutting the roll 200 to separate a sheet of desiredlength.

The foregoing is illustrative of some modifications and adaptations thatcan fall within the scope of the present invention, and is not acomprehensive list. Instead, those skilled in the art will understandthat these and other modifications, and adaptations to particularcircumstances, fall within the scope of the invention as herein shownand described and of the appended claims.

1. Wrapping paper comprising: at least one sheet of paper having atleast one edge portion delineated by at least one first line of weaknessproximate to a corresponding edge of the at least one sheet; and anadhesive applied to the at least one edge portion.
 2. The wrapping paperof claim 1, wherein the first line of weakness is substantially parallelto and coextensive with the corresponding edge.
 3. The wrapping paper ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one edge portion has a plurality ofconnector portions delineated by at least one second line of weaknessintersecting the first line of weakness.
 4. The wrapping paper of claim1, wherein the at least one sheet of paper is an edible paper.
 5. Thewrapping paper of claim 4, further comprising a food safe ink printed onthe at least one sheet.
 6. The wrapping paper of claim 5, wherein thefood safe ink is printed on a side of the at least one sheet without theadhesive.
 7. The wrapping paper of claim 1, further comprising anothersheet of paper delineated from the at least one sheet by a third line ofweakness and having another edge portion delineated by another firstline of weakness.
 8. The wrapping paper of claim 7, wherein the thirdline of weakness is substantially perpendicular to the first lines ofweakness.
 9. The wrapping paper of claim 1, wherein the at least onesheet is folded.
 10. The wrapping paper of claim 1, wherein the at leastone sheet is rolled.
 11. The wrapping paper of claim 1, wherein theadhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 12. The wrapping paper ofclaim 11, further comprising a releasable backing applied over thepressure sensitive adhesive.
 13. The wrapping paper of claim 1, whereinthe adhesive is moisture activated.
 14. The wrapping paper of claim 1,wherein the adhesive is non-toxic.
 15. A gift wrapping methodcomprising: detaching an edge portion from a sheet of paper along a lineof weakness therebetween; wrapping a gift using the sheet; securing thesheet using an adhesive surface of the edge portion.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein securing the sheet using an adhesive surface of theedge portion includes removing a releasable backing from the edgeportion to expose a pressure sensitive adhesive.
 17. The method of claim15, wherein securing the sheet using an adhesive surface of the edgeportion further includes separating a connector portion from the edgeportion.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein separating the connectorportion from the edge portion includes cutting the connector portionfrom the edge portion.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein separatingthe connector portion from the edge portion includes detaching theconnector portion along another line of weakness.
 20. Wrapping papercomprising: an edible sheet of paper with a line of weakness definedtherein delineating a detachable edge portion; a food safe ink printedon the edible sheet of paper; a non-toxic, pressure sensitive adhesiveapplied to the detachable edge portion; and a releasable backingcovering the non-toxic, pressure sensitive adhesive.